Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-11-14
SPARKS WILL NOT FLY.
THE DOUGHTY ILLiNOiSAN WILL RE-
FUSE TO RESIGN HIS PLACE,

And Force the President to Decide the
Question at Issue-Specuiation at the
Capital Over the Unpleasantness Dick
inson VIII Take GondThing-A Com.
ing Conference.
WASHINGTON CITY, Nov. "a Secretary La
mar authorizes the statement that his letter TO
Commissioner Sparks was written without
consultation with any one outside of bis own
Immediate Office and without any official of
the administration knowing of his intention
to write it, Commissioner Sparks letter to
him was received Iato Friday afternoon and
the Secretary, after reading it, at once be-
gan 10 write his reply.
This caustic letter from the cabinet officer
TO the lana commissioner is the chief topic of
conversation in the departments and about
Washington. Nothing definite can be learned
as to the outcome of the matter. At the ex-
ecutive mansion they are extremely reticent
about the controversy, while i'll the interior
department some Of the officials are outspoKen
| in their approval of Secretary Lamar's ac-
| ton. There is mere or less speculation as to
the meaning of this sudden outbreak against
| the commissioner by the secretary, just on
| the eve, as many lelieye. of his transfer to
| the United States supreme court bench.
| Some think it means that the secretary will
| aot go on the supreme court bench; that he
| intends to remain at the head of the interior
| department. and hence felt that he must get
| rid of the commissioner. Another view taken
| by prominent Democratic official is that
| the secretary's letter was published as final
| answer to the criticisms OF Secretary Lamar
that have been given to the press by Commits
sioner Sparks. "The truth is, "he added, that
| Sparks has been reckless in eriticlsing Lamar
to newspaper correspondents. He did not
seem 10 care whether his grievances were
| published in Republican or Democratic pa
| pers. Now, upon the eve of retiring from
the department, Secretary Lamar, no doubt,
decided that it was due to himself and his
administration to vindicate himself against
| the numerous complaints and criticisms OF
Sparks, uttered and published on divers oc-
| casionsn
Commissioner Sparks was still confined tc
| his room and bed suffering from chills and
| fever, and declined to say anything about
the matter until up and about which he
| hoped would be very soon 1t is generally
| admitted that the commissioner will step
down and out, hut whether he will do so vol
unfairly OF wait until asked by the president
to retire, no one knows There are some who
insist that he will make an issue with the pres
ident if asked to retire. and accompany his let
ter with letter designed for the public, il
which he will take the ground that he is tn,
victim of the great railroad monopolies, be
canse he has been an insurmountable barrel
in the way Of the success of greedy cormor
ants" in schemes to gobble up the public lands
and that the railroads have succeeded in
using Secretary Lamar as a means of getting
the commissioner out of the way.
LATER -Commissioner Sparks will max
reply to the letter of Secretary Lamar
He viii defend his letter to Secretary Lamar
as dignifief, decnrous and reasonable and il
conclusion will refuse to resign. This vii
place the controversy in the presidents hand
and he will be called upon to decide